Assistive Tech UCP Central PA

11/15/2025

Today is America Recycles Day! Did you know that TechOWL Regional Resource Centers have reuse programs? One of Central Pennsylvania's reuse programs is Changing Hands. We accept a variety of assistive technology and durable medical equipment in good working order. We clean and inventory it, then provide it to people at no charge. Do you have equipment in good working order you would like to donate? To find a TechOWL reuse partner program or resource center, go to https://techowlpa.org/reep/.

Reused Equipment Program Get it. Give it. Donate your used tools and devices. Giving Tech a Second Life TechOWL helps connect people with the tools they need through our equipment donation program.…

11/13/2025

11/12/2025

Changing Hands has information on a modular ramp system available for pick up in the Harrisburg area. This is not a picture of the ramp available. I don't know if it has a turn or not, but the ramp sections measure 11.5 feet. ADA guidelines are 1 inch of ramp for every 12 inches of height. If you are in need of a ramp this size, please e-mail atucp@ucpcentralpa.org and we will provide contact information.

11/10/2025

Pennsylvania’s Free Special Phone program provides house phones and cell phones to people who are blind/have low vision, are deaf/hard of hearing, have difficulty with speech or mobility or have cognitive issues.
Among the phones available are three cell phones specifically designed for people who are blind/have low vision. The phones available are the SmartVision 3, Mini Vision 2+ and the BlindShell Classic 3. These phones have a tactile keypad and are able to read the contacts and text messages aloud. For more information on these phones, or to see if you are eligible for a free phone, go to https://techowlpa.org/tddp/.

11/07/2025

Governor Shapiro has proclaimed November as Assistive Technology Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. Assistive devices help people of all ages and abilities to keep or increase their independence.

TechOWL is Pennsylvania's Assistive Technology Act project. TechOWL has 9 Regional Resource Centers across Pennsylvania. TechOWL's Resource Centers can help you to borrow items to try on a short term basis, provide demonstrations of devices, help you find equipment reuse programs, and answer questions about assistive technology.

For more information about TechOWL's programs, visit www.techowl.org.
To find the Assistive Technology Resource Center that covers your county, go to https://techowlpa.org/atrc/.

11/05/2025

Changing Hands has a Kid Walk II available. It is a "gait training device that is intended to assist in teaching proper gait with the person's feet on the floor." It fits children age 5-12 with a maximum weight of 90 pounds.

This item is available for pick up in Camp Hill, PA. If you are interested in this item, please e-mail atucp@ucpcentralpa.org. Requests in messenger will not be answered.

10/31/2025

Changing Hands currently has 4 Rifton Pacer gait trainers available. They come with a variety of attachments. One is a size Small, with a 75 pound weight limit. The other 3 are size Large, with a 200 pound weight limit. These items are available for pick up in Camp Hill, PA. If you are interested in one of these gait trainers, or would like more information on them, please e-mail atucp@ucpcentralpa.org as we are not able to access messenger on a regular basis.

10/30/2025

Today is National Candy Corn Day. Because of that, we wanted to introduce you to the Big Candy Corn Switch. This is a proximity switch. It is highly sensitive and does not require a physical touch from the user to activate it. Simply wave a hand or move your body within 1-in/2.5-cm of BIG Candy Corn and it activates. It has an auditory beep and visual feedback can be turned on and off and a larger activation area that is approximately 3.5-in/9-cm wide. It can be plugged in and activate a toy or device that has a 3.5 mm switch jack.

The Big Candy Corn switch is available for a short term loan from the PA Assistive Technology Lending Library. For more information on borrowing this or other switches in the library, go to https://techowlpa.org/library/.

, ,

10/09/2025

Changing Hands just received this rigid frame manual wheelchair. The wheelchair has a 16" wide seat. It has a chest strap and seat belt, as well as wheelchair tie-downs for transportation. It has a tilt feature but does not recline. This item is available for pick up in Camp Hill.
If you are interested in this chair, please e-mail at@ucpcentralpa.org as we are not able to monitor facebook messenger.

09/23/2025

Changing Hands has just received 2 electric patient lifts. Both come with a new battery and charger. However, we do not have slings for them. These are available for pick up in Camp Hill.

If you are in need of one of these, please e-mail us at atucp@ucpcentralpa.org, and we will schedule a day and time for pick up.

Please do not contact us on Messenger, since we do not always have access to it.

09/18/2025

We want to share this information with everyone.

UPMC Carlisle Rehab Institute is having a community service event at the UPMC Carlisle campus, this Friday from 9am to 1pm. There will be staff cleaning & servicing wheelchairs, vendors available to make on site adjustments & help with potential new wheelchairs, other vendors, arts & crafts, & food available. Anyone can sign up until the event & we also accept walk ins.

09/11/2025

Reminder Rosie is a simple, hands-free alarm clock that allows you to record your own voice messages. Use it to remember medication, meal times, or appointments. The clock can store up to 25 reminders, each with 8 seconds of recording time. When not making an announcement, Rosie displays the current time, date, and day of the week in large print.
This is not a “smart” device and does not require internet access.

Reminder Rosie is available for people to borrow on a short term basis from the PA Assistive Technology Lending Library. For more information on the PA Assistive Technology Lending Library or to borrow Reminder Rosie, go to https://techowlpa.org/library/.